Sometimes it is necessary from time to time to put in place temporary traffic management measures to facilitate safe road works, temporary closures or incident management, whilst keeping the traffic flowing as freely as possible. As there is often a high traffic flows on many roads, it is particularly important to plan all works activities and temporary closures to optimise safety, road space and work efficiency, whilst minimising road user congestion, delay and inconvenience.

This plan, provides guidance for those responsible for the design of temporary traffic management arrangements which should be implemented to facilitate maintenance activities or in response to temporary situations. It contains advice relating to traffic safety measures, and the identity and location of the traffic signs needed to guide road users, including pedestrians, safely past obstructions in temporary situations. It is structured to facilitate and reflect the design process for temporary traffic management, from the initial broad brief to details of signing provision. It raises the principal issues that need to be considered in temporary traffic management design and provides advice about their resolution. The document deals with the design of temporary traffic management arrangements on single carriageway roads and dual carriageway roads separately. The design guidance is illustrated by the inclusion of sample plans.